MythQuest Series :: The Minotaur Book Review

MythQuest Series :: The Minotaur Book Review - Reviewed by Kidzworld on Dec 27, 2006

( Rating: )

Kidzworlds checking out the latest Random House series, MythQuest, which is based on the television series aired on PBS, Showcase and CBC. Find out if The Minotaur is worth your reading time.

Novelization by: Tom Mason and Dan Danko

Have you ever noticed that almost every time someone tries to recreate the magic of your fave movie or TV show as a novel, it usually sucks? Well, maybe there's hope yet for book lovers everywhere. We believe the MythQuest series will win you over. Find out why!

The Minotaur

The first novel in the MythQuest series is called The Minotaur and is based on the first episode of the MythQuest television series, found on PBS, Showcase and CBC. The MythQuest tales are all about siblings, Alex and Cleo Bellows and their adventures trapped in ancient myths.

Ancient Greece

In The Minotaur, Alex and Cleo's dad is mysteriously sucked into his computer, leaving not a trace of evidence behind. Then, Alex gets sucked into the computer too! Both Cleo and Alex are in shock, but they don't have much time to think about what has just happened. Alex has somehow landed smack dab in the middle of ancient Crete where everyone thinks he is the Athenian prince, Theseus. The only catch? Theseus has boasted that he'll be the one to kill the deadly Minotaur, in order to end the sacrificing of his people!

A Not-so-simple Escape

So, all Alex has to do is kill the Minotaur, free the Princess of Crete from her tyrant father, King Minos, and find a way back to the 21st Century. Oh yeah, and he has to track down his dad somewhere in between. Think he can do it? Well, you're going to have to read the book to find out!

Mythquest Rating:

If you're interested in the MythQuest television series, then check out their site!

((Author's note: Inspired by Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Edits and suggestions are accepted in the comments. If you would like to add on to this and continue writing it yourself, I will create a master post of the finished product and may include suggestions and other people's work, whom I will credit. Thank you.))
After the battle to banish the Empire succeeded,
The pony of shadows now for a thousand years gone,
The feasts of celebration were well underway,
And the Princesses rejoiced that the battle was won.
Star Swirl the Bearded, great wizard of old,
Had remained there as long as he may,
But as soon as he rose, the hall to leave
There came an event that forced him to stay.
A figure stepped in from the midst of a storm:
The doors were flung open with tremendous might
By a stallion of stature like never before seen
His presence alone dimmed the room’s light.
His hooves pounded the floor and forced it to crack
Legs like tree-trunks, and a voice like thunder
His eyes flashed like stars underneath his hood
All present had their composures thrown asunder.
“Greetings!” The unicorn cried to the thrones.
“I have traveled from the Northland’s wastes
To meet the Sisters of much I have heard
And so I have arrived, coming with haste.”
Celestia bowed with grace to this stranger
“We accept you in our halls, you are to be certain
You will be welcome as long as you stay.
But I request you tell of your journey and all it may pertain.
Begin with your name, if you please,” she concluded.
And the unicorn nodded in acceptance.
“Of course. You behold Polaris, a messenger
For my people, and have come to pay penance
To the rulers of our far away neighbors.
I am the chieftain of my tribe in the North,
Masters of snow and flame in our magic.
But now we are in need, and I have come forth
To beg of you your assistance.”
He bowed in his head, in pleading he waited
While averting his eyes to the ground.
Not wanting the Princess to know what was unstated.
Star Swirl arose, proudly he stood,
His horn lit aflame to point to the sky.
“Of course we will help! I’ll accompany you myself!”
He did not pause to ask Polaris why.

Yeah, I really think schools should change their teaching methods. Every year, when I take the standardized tests, I see again and again at least 40% of the test something the teachers never taught. It also doesn't really give you much stuff you actually will need beyond high school, unless you plan on being an ultimate master-of-all-subjects in college and want to try every single job out there at least once. Maybe then.